Susquehanna River Basin Commission State of the SUSQUEHANNA 2013 REPORT . Table of ConTenTs susquehanna river basin Executive Director’s Message ........................................page 3 Water Use & Development .................page 4 Floods & Droughts .......page 6 Stormwater ..................page 8 The Drinking Water Connection .................page 10 The Susquehanna River Basin... isa27,510-square-milewatershed. hasmorethan49,000milesofwaterways–rivers, Mine Drainage ............page 12 streams,creeks,brooksandruns. isoneofthemostflood-proneareasintheentire nation,experiencingamajordevastatingfloodon averageevery14years. Sediment & Nutrients ....................page 14 flows 444 miles from its headwaters at Otsego LakeinCooperstown,N.Y.,toHavredeGrace,Md., wheretherivermeetstheChesapeakeBay. Human Health & isthelargestriverlyingentirelywithintheUnited Drinking Water StatesthatdrainsintotheAtlanticOcean. Protection ..................page 16 flows about 20 miles per day on an average summerday. Habitat & Aquatic hasanormalflowofabout18milliongallonsper Resources ....................page 18 minuteatHavredeGrace,Md. Photo courtesy of Robert Henricks hasapopulationof4.1millionpeople. Cover Photo: Northbranch Susquehanna River, southwest Research ......................page 20 view from Wyalusing Rocks, Bradford County, along US Route 6. Courtesy of Nicholas A. Tonelli. 2 exeCuTive DireCTor’s Message he Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is for the network of stream gages throughout the Susquehanna pleased to release the 2013 State of the Susquehanna River Basin. This is not a new concern. However, with the loss of Treport, which provides a snapshot look at data and trends line-item funding in the federal budget starting in fiscal year 2011 for seven overarching water resource indicators. The indicators for the Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System, it has are: (1) Water Use and Development, (2) Floods and Droughts, been a growing concern. (3) Stormwater, (4) Mine Drainage, (5) Sediment and Nutrients, (6) Human Health and Drinking Water Protection, and (7) Habitat A more viable, sustainable way of funding the stream gages needs and Aquatic Resources. to be secured. The gages, which are operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), generate real-time data that are vital for SRBC SRBC’s goal is to provide data and let the data speak for and numerous other water resource management agencies. themselves, not to rate or rank conditions. The tracking of virtually all seven indicators described in this This report would not be possible without monitoring data, State of the Susquehanna report and others not mentioned is collected by both SRBC and the agencies of its member directly or indirectly tied to USGS stream gages. Without these jurisdictions. Monitoring is a core expertise of SRBC and data, we would literally be “flying blind.” provides data that are invaluable not only to SRBC’s management decisions but to others as well. For example, SRBC would not be able to determine when major water users need to cease water withdrawals to safeguard other This expertise includes all aspects of monitoring – from using water users and the aquatic environment during times of low approved methods, to collecting data that follow protocols for flow. The National Weather Service would not be able to provide quality assurance and quality control, to carefully recording and timely and accurate predictions of when flooding is expected to analyzing the data. It also extends to providing monitoring results impact communities throughout the basin. SRBC would not be to agencies and policy makers in the interest of science-based able to assess whether pollutant loads in the basin are increasing decision-making as well as to watershed organizations and the or decreasing. general public. Those are just three of the many examples of how water resource We hope you will find the data and information included in management functions would be severely impeded should stream this report useful. As you will see, some of the indicators show gages be lost. improving or virtually unchanged trends while others show declining trends for the assessment periods covered. We are familiar with physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, water and wastewater systems and railway lines, and Good Progress to Date, Much More Is Needed we know the consequences of not maintaining this infrastructure Based on analyses of SRBC’s nutrient and sediment monitoring for public health, safety and welfare. Stream gages are no data, the health of the Susquehanna River Basin overall is different. They are the “hidden infrastructure” that water resource improving. The mainstem Susquehanna River meets or exceeds managers rely upon extensively. If they are no longer operated its designated uses along most of its 444 miles. The basin includes and maintained, the result is that public health, safety and welfare many pristine watersheds with unimpaired water quality – of the is likewise jeopardized. more than 49,000 miles of stream miles in the basin, less than 14 SRBC has been at the forefront for some years urging the federal percent are impaired for aquatic life uses. More and more communities government to adequately fund the stream gages. I cannot stress are applying best management practices to reduce stormwater runoff enough just how incredibly vital the stream gaging network is and several agencies, SRBC included, are encouraging the reuse of for the communities and citizens of the Susquehanna basin. I mine drainage and other lesser quality waters. sincerely hope the importance of gages can be fully appreciated But we know that is by no means the full story. There is much BEFORE this hidden infrastructure is lost to us. more progress to be made as we face increasing demands on the basin’s water resources. More than 2,000 miles of streams are Long Term Sustainable Water Resources Management still impacted by mine drainage. The prevalence of disease in the SRBC will continue to advocate for reliable stream-gage smallmouth bass population has continued to increase since 2005. funding as part of its overall goal of sustainable water resources The percentage of the basin’s assessed stream miles impaired management for the Susquehanna basin. Through pro-active for microbial pollutants doubled between the 2010 and 2012 planning, management and cooperation among governmental and assessment periods. non-governmental affiliates, I truly believe we can set our sights to achieving that goal. Greatest Threat to Water Resources Management Paul O. Swartz Today, I believe the greatest threat to water resources management Executive Director in the Susquehanna basin is the ongoing uncertainty over funding Susquehanna River Basin Commission 3 IndIcator 1 Overarching Issue Reported Consumptive Water Use The Susquehanna River Basin provides water to support a variety By Industry of industries, including public water supply, with increased activity WaTer use & in the energy sector. Heightened demand requires a focus toward (MGD) 2010 Status* sustainable planning and management of the water resources DevelopMenT within the 27,510-square-mile drainage basin. Low flow protection and consumptive use mitigation are two ongoing concerns. SRBC continues to work on policies aimed at instream flow protection and to take actions related to the Commission’s Consumptive Use Mitigation Plan. Indicator Criteria Reported Consumptive Water Use Assessment Period By Industry Criteria Jan1-Dec31, Jan1-Dec31, 2009 2011 (MGD) 2012 Status* Amountofreportedconsumptivewater Overview 110 127 use(MGD-milliongallonsperday) Water from the Susquehanna River Basin is needed for Amountofreportedsurfacewater public water supply, electrical generation, manufacturing, 2,404 2,841 agricultural, environmental, recreational and many other withdrawal(MGD) purposes. The basin is rich in energy resources. Increased Amountofreported 111 131 activity in the energy sector is driving new water use, groundwaterwithdrawal(MGD) including drilling for natural gas and new or upgraded coal-fired and nuclear power plants. SRBC continues Amountoffreshwaterdeliveredto 1 6 to employ scientific criteria to balance sustainable naturalgaswellpads(MGD) development of water resources in the basin and protect Data Sources: SRBC water use data the aquatic ecosystem from potential impacts associated with water use. SRBC owns water storage at two U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) reservoirs - Cowanesque and Curwensville - for release during times of low flow to mitigate for regulated consumptive uses. SRBC also has Balancing Water Use and arrangements with the USACE for water at its Whitney Point Restoration Project to be released for downstream environmental restoration purposes Instream Flow Protection during times of low flow. In addition, SRBC partnered with the Pennsylvania Although the Susquehanna River Basin is abundant Department of Environmental Protection at its Lancashire 15 mine drainage in water resources, unconstrained development of treatment plant to mitigate consumptive uses by agricultural operations in the resources has the potential to impact other water the Pennsylvania portion of the basin. users and aquatic ecosystems. SRBC has protective regulations, policies and guidance in place to afford SRBC continues to evaluate and refine its implementation of instream flow adequate protection of instream flows while still protection measures. The recent development of a new Low Flow Protection allowing for necessary water